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[[Image:Hispanic Demographic.jpg|350px|right|thumb|Latinos at first concentrate to states nearest Mexico (and Cuba), but then diffuse throughout the U.S.]]  

[[Image:Hispanic Demographic.jpg|350px|right|thumb|Latinos at first concentrate to states nearest Mexico (and Cuba), but then diffuse throughout the U.S.]]  

'''Latino''' (in the US) is a new English word (Americanism) derived from a Spanish word that means a person of Latin languages-speaking descent. Latinos, in English, means [[Mexicans]] and other people of [[Latin America]]n descent living in the U.S.<ref>David G.  Gutiérrez, ed. ''The Columbia History of Latinos in the United States Since 1960'' (2004) pp 1-2 [https://www.amazon.com/Columbia-History-Latinos-United-States/dp/0231118090/ref=sr_1_1/103-4827826-5463040?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1190386160&sr=8-1 online excerpt]</ref><ref>[http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/latinos Latino] Dictionary.com

'''Latino''' (in the [[US]]) is a new [[English]] word (Americanism) derived from a [[Spanish]] word that means a person of [[Latin]] languages-speaking descent. Latinos, in English, means [[Mexicans]] and other people of [[Latin America]]n descent living in the U.S.<ref>David G.  Gutiérrez, ed. ''The Columbia History of Latinos in the United States Since 1960'' (2004) pp 1-2 [https://www.amazon.com/Columbia-History-Latinos-United-States/dp/0231118090/ref=sr_1_1/103-4827826-5463040?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1190386160&sr=8-1 online excerpt]</ref><ref>[http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/latinos Latino] Dictionary.com

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However, the term "Latin" is derived from Southern Europeans' ancient language, [[Latin]], the language spoken by the Romans; descendant languages are [[Spanish]], [[French]], [[Italian]], [[Portuguese]] (also spoken in [[Brazil]] in South America), and to a distance, [[Romanian]] in [[Romania]] and the [[Balkans]].

However, the term "Latin" is derived from Southern [[Europe]]ans' ancient language, [[Latin]], the language spoken by the [[Roman]]s; descendant languages are [[Spanish]], [[French]], [[Italian]], [[Portuguese]] (also spoken in [[Brazil]] in [[South America]]), and to a distance, [[Romanian]] in [[Romania]] and the [[Balkans]].

== Latinos in the US  ==

== Latinos in the US  ==

[[File:Sotomeyr2.jpg|thumb|250px|Sotomayor's parents came from Puerto Rico; her mother was a WAC in the US Army in World War II]]

[[File:Sotomeyr2.jpg|thumb|250px|Sotomayor's parents came from Puerto Rico; her mother was a WAC in the US Army in World War II]]

Latinos are diverse: 60% are native-born and 40% foreign-born; 64% are of Mexican heritage, and the other 36% are from Cuba, Puerto Rico, Central America and beyond. They split their vote in 2004, when President Bush appealed for their votes, but voted 2-1 against McCain in 2008 when he made little appeal to them.  Despite their diversity they were united in celebrating the nomination to the Supreme Court of Judge [[Sonia Sotomayor]] in May 2009. She was born to a poor family of migrants from Puerto Rico, and after attending Princeton and Yale Law School made it to the top through very hard work.  Her nomination marked the national recognition and acceptance of all Latinos.  

Latinos are diverse: 60% are native-born and 40% foreign-born; 64% are of Mexican heritage, and the other 36% are from Cuba, Puerto Rico, Central America and beyond. They split their vote in 2004, when President [[George Bush|Bush]] appealed for their votes, but voted 2-1 against McCain in 2008 when he made little appeal to them.  Despite their diversity they were united in celebrating the nomination to the Supreme Court of Judge [[Sonia Sotomayor]] in May 2009. She was born to a poor family of migrants from Puerto Rico, and after attending Princeton and Yale Law School made it to the top through very hard work.  Her nomination marked the national recognition and acceptance of all Latinos.  

As a united whole, Hispanics make up more than 15% of the U.S. population and accounted for about half of the country's growth in the past decade.

As a united whole, Hispanics make up more than 15% of the U.S. population and accounted for about half of the country's growth in the past decade.

[[Image:Hispanic.jpg|thumb|450px|Hispanic population in the US in 1990. Since 1990 there has been a doubling in numbers and much greater presence outside the Southwest]]

[[Image:Hispanic.jpg|thumb|450px|Hispanic population in the US in 1990. Since 1990 there has been a doubling in numbers and much greater presence outside the Southwest]]

By 2005, the Latino population in the US reached 41.3 million, of whom 64% were Mexican, 10% Puerto Rican, 3% Cuban, 3% Dominican, 3% Salvadoran, and the remaining 17% from smaller groups.<ref>[https://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/010327.html See Census Bureau press release, July 16, 2007  at]</ref> According to the Pew Research Center in 2008, 12,7 millions were of Mexican origin (32% of all immigrants living in this country).<ref>[http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1191/mexican-immigrants-in-america-largest-group Mexican Immigrants in the United States, 2008]</ref> About 30% of the Latinos—12 million—are illegal ("undocumented") immigrants to the U.S., a number that has grown since the [[September 11, 2001 attacks|9-11 attacks of 2001]].  The illegal—and indeed the legal immigrants—have become targets of verbal and political criticism.  

By 2005, the Latino population in the US reached 41.3 million, of whom 64% were Mexican, 10% [[Puerto Rican]], 3% [[Cuba]]n, 3% [[Dominican]], 3% [[El Salvador|Salvadoran]], and the remaining 17% from smaller groups.<ref>[https://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/010327.html See Census Bureau press release, July 16, 2007  at]</ref> According to the Pew Research Center in 2008, 12,7 millions were of Mexican origin (32% of all immigrants living in this country).<ref>[http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1191/mexican-immigrants-in-america-largest-group Mexican Immigrants in the United States, 2008]</ref> About 30% of the Latinos—12 million—are illegal ("undocumented") immigrants to the U.S., a number that has grown since the [[September 11, 2001 attacks|9-11 attacks of 2001]].  The illegal—and indeed the legal immigrants—have become targets of verbal and political criticism.  

Culturally they are mostly [[conservative]] [[Catholics]], with a strong [[evangelical]] element. They are known for very strong family ties, and high birth rates. They cluster at the bottom of the socio-economic scale, with low levels of education and high dropout rates from schools, and mostly hold unskilled or semi-skilled jobs. The "illegals" (undocumented) hold even lower-skilled jobs in agriculture, construction, landscaping, hotels and restaurants, while sending money back to their families. The Latino crime rate is about the national average. The illegals pay the same sales taxes as everyone, but usually have incomes too low to pay income taxes.  Many of the illegals pay social security taxes into false accounts (which means they are not entitled to benefits).  The legals include both citizens and legal residents who are not yet citizens; all children born in the U.S. have U.S. citizenship. In many families, some members are illegal and some are legal non-citizens and others are full citizens.

Culturally they are mostly [[conservative]] [[Catholics]], with a strong [[evangelical]] element. They are known for very strong family ties, and high birth rates. They cluster at the bottom of the socio-economic scale, with low levels of education and high dropout rates from schools, and mostly hold unskilled or semi-skilled jobs. The "illegals" (undocumented) hold even lower-skilled jobs in agriculture, construction, landscaping, hotels and restaurants, while sending money back to their families. The Latino crime rate is about the national average. The illegals pay the same sales taxes as everyone, but usually have incomes too low to pay income taxes.  Many of the illegals pay social security taxes into false accounts (which means they are not entitled to benefits).  The legals include both citizens and legal residents who are not yet citizens; all children born in the U.S. have U.S. citizenship. In many families, some members are illegal and some are legal non-citizens and others are full citizens.